Spring book mania returns to Kalispell Mall

Around 2 p.m. on Friday, hordes of book sharks begin cruising closer to covered tables at the annual spring used book sale at the Kalispell Center Mall.

An hour later, the unveiling of the books triggers the opening frenzy of the three-day fundraiser put on by the Kalispell branch of the American Association of University Women.

"Booksellers and other people just descend on the books," said Barbara Myers, co-chairwoman of the event. "We sell a lot of old and rare books right away."

Fear not if work gets in the way of attending the opening free-for-all. Myers estimates the inventory this year at around 8,000 books scheduled to sell from 3 to 9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Prices qualify as recession-friendly, with rare books and nearly new tomes sold at under market prices. The rest go out in stacks at $1.50 per inch.

"On Sunday, we sell them for $3 a bag," Myers said. "A lot of people come on Sunday for romances and paperback mysteries."

As close as anyone can recall, this year marks almost 40 years for the popular sale that raises money for Flathead Valley Community College scholarships, the college's annual honors symposium and other association projects.

Myers said the book sale raised $10,000 in 2008. Over the last 10 years, she estimates the association has contributed about $50,000 to help students attend the community college.

Even with the down economy, books at bargain prices should hold their own compared to the past 19 years.

"People come up with stacks of books," Myers said. "They get a good deal and a good selection."

To prepare, about 25 volunteers collect and organize thousands of volumes that come from individuals as well as estates.

The association places barrels around town at grocery stores and other locations.

Myers said the university women consider the book work a labor of love.

"It's a great job," she said. "We collect books all year long."

Donated volumes end up at their sorting center near Woodland Park in Kalispell where volunteers weed out the moldy and broken-backed from the rare and precious first editions. Myers conscripts her husband to rip hard covers off broken or valueless books for reincarnation at the recycling center.

"We take everything somewhere," she said.

The moldy stinkers and outdated books raised a respectable $180 last year toward the association's mission of promoting equity for women of all ages in education and employment.

Books with value get sorted into categories such as rare and old, literature, fiction, nonfiction, reference and more so buyers may quickly navigate to their favorites on the bibliophile's buffet spread out each spring.

This year's sale includes first editions and many books in prime condition, Myers said. She uses Internet sites to help her identify and appraise rare books.

"I found a couple worth $50," she said. "We price them less than online."

With 8,000 volumes set up to sell, association members get started on Thursday.

Unlike the early days of the spring sale, they don't lug the back-breaking boxes themselves, thanks to Wright's Furniture.

"Now we have furniture angels," she said.

According to Myers, this year's haul includes lots of reference books such as dictionaries, cookbooks and coffee-table books.

"I'll bet we had 20 very beautiful books in good condition on movies and Hollywood," she said. "I've sorted about 100 children's books in prime condition."

Montana books represent a popular genre that is well-represented in the 2009 spring book sale.

Used booksellers often go to great lengths and over some distance to get a share of the year's collection.

She said one man who used to live here traveled from Denver last year to have a crack at the 2008 cache.

Myers has a simple explanation for the enduring attraction of the American Association of University Women's spring book blowout.

"The books we sell are all in very good condition," she said.

Reporter Candace Chase may be reached at 758-4436 or by e-mail at cchase@dailyinterlake.com.